Figure 1.--Here we see a group of children all dressed in white outfits. The girls look to have flower garlab=nds. The way the children are dressed suggest tht they came from comfortable middle-class or well to do families. The photograph is captioned, "The Little Philosophers: A Group of Raja-Yoga tots on their way to the Greek Theater. They are at the International Theosophical Headquaters, Point Loma, California. The photograph is not dated, but was probably taken about 1915. Source: International Theosophical Headquarters. Lomaland Photographic Series, No. 2177.

The term Theosophy is derived from the Greek theosophia (θεοσοφία). It was formed from 'theos' (θεός, God) and sophia (σοφία, wisdom. Thus Theosophy means 'Divine wisdom'. It is an ancient tradition, although the term Theosophy itself is modern. Theosophy is an eclectic mixture largely mystical and occultist beliefs centered on seeking knowledge of the mysteries of life and nature. Theosophy ssems particularly concerned with the actual nature of divinity along with the origin and purpose of the universe. Only in the 20th century did astrinomy develop to the point that it could offer real insights into that question. Theosophy developed in the West in classical times before the advent of Christianity. Scholars classify it as a component of Western esotericism, a disclipine based on the idea that there is hidden knowledge or wisdom which can be obtained from the ancient teachings which if discovered can create a path to enlightenment and salvation. The term Theosophy began to be used in the late-19th century onwards. The modern Theosophy movement refers to the religio-philosophic ideas of the Theosophical Society founded in the United States (1875). The founders were Helena Blavatsky, William Quan Judge, and Henry Steel Olcott. Blavatsky was at the heart of the movement. [Blavatsky] Organizations descended or otherwise related to the Theosophical Society are currently active in more than 50 different countries, primrily in America and Europe but not limited to the Western world. Theosophy is a fairly small movement in numbers. It has, however, had considerable impact on mystical, philosophical, and religious movements around the world. We also see it impacting popular cilture with bokks and movies llike The Da Vinvci Code.

Sources

Blavatsky, Helena. The Secret Doctrine (1888). Blavatsky's book has been described as one of the 'foundational works' of the modern theosophy movement.

Created: 8:41 PM 7/5/2017
Last updated: 8:42 PM 7/5/2017